Masonry Magazine July 1973 Page. 35
Some materials stand up to fire
Some materials stand up to fire better than they stand up to water. In a fire, flame isn't always your worst enemy. Often the water used to put out the blaze damages the building worse than the fire itself.
Many builders overlook this. They choose their materials only on the basis of fire codes. But fire codes have no requirements for water damage. So there's no guarantee that the building will still be usable after being ravaged by fire and then flooded with water.
Under conditions like this, only one building material truly survives: masonry.
First, it has the greatest dollar for dollar resistance to fire. No matter how hot it gets, concrete or clay masonry won't melt or burn. (That means it's safer for stairwells and elevator shafts.)
And in the case of a real blaze, fire doesn't spread as easily with masonry. It can be contained in a small area.
But masonry is also resistant to water. A popular building material like gypsum dry wall can warp when exposed to water. Masonry will not. Dry wall can disintegrate when exposed to water. Masonry will not. Dry wall can peel from water. Masonry will not.
There's no simpler way to put it. If you want to pass fire codes, use what you want. But if you want to protect your investment, use concrete or clay masonry. It protects your building from going up in flames or down the drain.
The International W Masonry Institute Suite 1001, 823 15th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005. 202-783-3908